Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-22

MEN-BULL FIGHTs-CHARAcTERIsr OF
THE INHABITANTS.
visit to Mexico is among the interesting
things for the Western tourist, and calling
to mind the many recollections of that quaint
people and their country carried in memory
since his school days as he crosses the Rio
Grande. be half doubts. vet wholly desires that
his approximations are true. Crossing over
into the ancient city of Paso del Norte, he
soon realizes the full scope of his credulty,
and has left much fact before him of new ap-
precautions, quaint and interesting.
Who that has seen the cuts of the rude
habitations OF Mexicans, and looked upon the
costumes as engraved by the artist, but has
associated them with the undevelOped past!
And who among travellers visiting this coun-
try has reported anv departures among her
people in social or mechanical methods? Ii
cannot be apparent to Others than those who
come here how marked is the change in all in
dicative Of man in crossing the boundary line
between the two republics. In leaving Ell
Paso north of the Rio Grande you remember
its beauty, wealth and thrift. You have just
shaken hands and conversed with men from
twenty States who have brought here their
wealth and wit and talent, and pooled their
efforts in emerging city out OF the plains.
You had just been thronged by men of energy
and women of beauty whose attire and sur
roundings would make you think it in Boston
on n June day. But now looking about you all
has changed. The change is such as to
elicit mingled feeling of pity and chagrin.
you wonder If this people have kept them
selves as relic and national museum for the
rest of the world, and imagine yourself in
closed in a menagerie tent.
city? Yes. But now if you are from the
u. s., you must modify somewhat your asso-
citation of ideas The rumble of wheels or the
rustic of silks. the lofty piles of masonry, and
charming flourish of the artisan, the relief
and magic of the avenue, and the air of ease
and comfort are not here. A city it is true,
for here are the people and here where they
live.
IL will require but one flourish of the pen
to describe whole city in Mexico-a bleak
blank, antique pile of adobe brick, low and
lettering, with scarcely a corner or curve,
place OF beginning or ending, with houses
and walls unfortunately associated and
making but little difference if indiscrimlnately
used
These walls and most of the houses are
evidently aged. The adobe brick-or dolby
as it is commonly called-is but the raw mud
mixed with some grass fibre and moulded in
sizes and shapes much like that of stone used
in stone houses, cube l0xl2x7 inches and
dr. ed in the sun. These are then placed ia
walls of from two to four feet thick forming
houses or fences which vary but little in
height, rising from six to twelve feet. No
roof is visible, or at least the roof is seldom
seen from the street,as it is always lower than
the wall and usually slopes slightly toward
the court within. On the exterior of the
adobe there is no wood, the roof being OF
the same material borne up by beams of
timber interlaced with withes of smaller trees.
To the eye the spectacle is uninviting and
you cannot realize that these are the
dwelling places of human beings. Some of
the walls are in a state of decay and await
repairs. 1t must be remembered that there
Is but little rain here to disturb the con-
sstency of these bricks and to that little
they are quite impervious.
There stands here a church erected by the
Jesuit fathers, who were perhaps the first
missionaries on the continent, land is still in
daily use.) in which the candles burn end
have ever since first lighted about three
hundred years ago This is indeed unique
building and well repays visit by the
curious. 1t is called the Wylalupa and is a
model of architectural art of that day 1t is
an adobe with walls five feet thick, turreted,
with receipts. vestry, tower and tablets. Ii
| is IN fair state of preservation though now
under repairs in some parts, but in daily use
| by those ho worship at the Catholic snrine.
The beams over head aud piles rising to their
support a"e an effort of sculpture and carv-
ing.
In the rear of this church is the bull pen,
where occur the barbarian sports of fighting
maddeued wild bulls. These sports are still
in vogue in Mexico and are considered pre-.
eminently above all other occurrences of
amusement. To this city, Paso del Norte,
comes DeIse, brother to the President of the
Republic, TO "A bull fight once year. He is
said to be the best bull fighter in the State
of Chihuahua 1t was not my privilege to
witness one OF these cruel sports, but the
marks OF the last one of the season, which
had occurred but a week before, were plainly
visible in the ring. found the ring to be
fifty eight PAGES in diameter. Into this a
lid bull is turned and then frightened and
augered and tortured until his rage and pow
tr and desperation are indiscribable, attacking
an antagonist whose confederates. usually
two IN number, feed the fury of the bull by
constant fortunes and fright, who must man.
age to evade the thrusts of the bull, allow.
ing himself to approach the most imminent
danger, throwing himself at times upon the
bulls back and then alightng upon a horse
| iutliCting wounds upon the beast to nerve his
fury, until at length, when the fighter seems
| the devil lnCarnate, he thrusts sword
through the heart of the poor brute, (Which
is atterward dressed for food and the ap.
pause of thousand savages who have paid
dollar piece, if Deise Is the fighter, rend
the sky, showing their delight at the enter
tainment
| In the streets we notice a gOodly number
of men, but seldom a woman. Two parts o.
| the Mexican's dress are COMPREHENSIVE
hat and nubia or blanket Many of then
wear hats costing more than $1,000, ant
manv others wear imitation hats that lool
quite as we'll. These have very broad brim,
highly finished with silver bands, tapes
try and cords. Their nubias or blanket.
are of the gayest colors, and form much
of the dress, lifting to the nose and fold
ing and flowing downward midway, hiding
the arms. These are worn by the mer
whose circumstances will permit it, and are
not greatly different in their use from the
blanket with the Indian. The complexion O.
this people is all colors of smoke. They are
a mongrel race with no dominant virtue.
The streets of a Mexican city are narrow
crooked lanes, aimess and srtless. But few
houses have a door or window to the street
In many instances the dwellings surround s
centre, the interior of which is common
court toward which all houses front, and i.
the common playground for children, chick
ems and what else of domestics there be- In
to one of these courts we were attracted from